Photo Memories

Well this week has been emotional, and is likely to get even more so tomorrow, as one of my best friends is moving to Australia with her man. I am so excited for them as they are both so lovely and are going to have such a great time, but they are going to be missed. There was a big party at Robbo's rugby club on Saturday where I helped my pal Hayley put together a fancy dress photo booth for everyone to get their pics taken. It was such a simple idea that created some great memories for Sarah and Robbo to take with them. Hayley is putting them together in a book with little postcards that everyone was asked to write on, and this got me thinking of memory book ideas.

Scrap booking is something I have never really gotten in to, but I do have an obsession with keeping things like ticket stubs, postcards and scraps of paper, so maybe I should start putting them together with some beautiful photographs. I like the idea of putting all of the pretty stickers and moshi tape I have to good use!

I used to love flipbooks when I was a kid (who didn't?) so when I downloaded the software for Bobs Books to create a digital photo album I was very excited to see that they can turn your video clips into really cute photo flipbooks. Click here for more.

Postagram is a great way to share your photo memories, you take a picture on your phone and with the postagram app you can have it turned into a real postcard to send to your loved ones.







So here are just a few ideas on how to use your digital pics, happy snapping xx

Tuesday Treat - Creamy Coconut Ice

Coconut ice is a childhood favourite of mine, to me it conjures up sunny days at the spring flower shows with the sound of a brass band floating on the air. My dad worked for the Bath Parks & Gardens so, along with mum, was always roped into working the flower show. I practically grew up in the greenhouses, so all the folks at the show knew me and I used to roam the grounds all weekend with a sense of privilege only a 6 or 7 year old can get away with. Bag of homemade sweets from the craft tent in hand I would go to visit the animals, help sell programmes on the gate and get muddy demolishing the big displays at the end of the show. The taste of coconut ice always takes me back there, though it is never quite the same, it was always so creamy and covered in delicious chocolate. What better way to try and escape the rain that is over our shores at the moment than make some coconutty yumminess and dream of summer!!!!

The recipe I have put on here is from the BBC Good Food magazine, it is so simple and makes a great treat. I actually prefer to leave it all white and roll the mixture into a log, then when set it can be dipped in chocolate and sliced. Delicious.

BBC Good Food Magazine

I also had to add this recipe I found for coconut ice cream torte, looks like crowd pleaser!

Taste of Home

Enjoy xx

I Heart Japan (really must go someday)

A couple of weeks ago my pal Akiko came back to Bath from Japan, I was thinking today how I haven't managed to see her much since she got back, which then led me to thinking about a few of the Japanese things I love. Like many crafties out there I have fallen for moshi tape, is there nothing you can't decorate with it?

I like to imagine myself sometime this week with chopsticks in hand eating from a bento box whilst making masking tape pictures of cherry blossom trees, ahhhhh.

Click on captions for where to buy or how to make...

Torie Jayne

papermash

Kaiso Salad

                                                         

Yen Sushi

Hina Aoyama's Paper Art

Hokusai & Woodblocks

Akiko!!!

Funky Placemats

Over the last week I have spent a fair amount of time with my lovely friend Hayley, she has been very supportive in getting my work out there to the public. I am very excited to say that a beautiful gallery in Salisbury has taken a selection and it looked great amongst all the other arts and crafts. If you are in the area check out the Gallery at Fisherton Mill.
Anyway, I digress, whilst spending time with Hayley she has mentioned several times that she needs some place mats for her new dining room, see where we're going yet? I started looking on line for some fun and funky ideas to make your own, and here is what I have found. As always, use these to be inspired and come up with something unique for you (get your craft hat on and get making, I have!)...

House of Ficek

Fossil

Free printable from The Pretty Blog

Pocketful of Dreams

Sian Berry for EggMag

Creme de la Craft

La Maison Jolie

Sweet Tidings

Have fun xx

Ola!

I'm home, back to reality and to the wettest drought in history! I have just spent a lovely couple of days with some of the gals in (partly) sunny Mallorca. It was kind of a final farewell fling before Sarah emigrates to Australia. We ate soooo much yummy Spanish food and chilled on the prettiest little beach for a few days. I will be back to finding crafty things to do in no time I'm sure, but just need one or two more days to get over the post holiday blues!!! Adios amigos....

seafood paella

ferrero roche ice cream